Republican Leaders Scramble
To Contain Mark Foley Fallout

By

David Rogers

Updated Oct. 2, 2006 12:01 a.m. ET

WASHINGTON -- Pummeled by Democrats and their own self-doubts, Republicans worked to get ahead of the Mark Foley page scandal, with the White House moving toward a criminal investigation that might take some heat off the majority party.

In back-to-back letters released last night, Speaker Dennis Hastert formally asked both Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and Florida Gov. Jeb Bush to begin inquiries, and the Illinois Republican said...